Venezuelan Opposition Leader Presents Nobel Medal to Trump During White House Meeting
Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado presented her Nobel Peace Prize medal to U.S. President Donald Trump, highlighting her push for democratic transition.
Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado presented her Nobel Peace Prize medal to U.S. President Donald Trump during a White House meeting, a symbolic gesture reflecting her push for stronger U.S. backing in her country’s political transition.
Trump described the act as a “wonderful gesture of mutual respect” and praised Machado’s resilience, but officials said he will keep the medal as a framed memento.
Machado said she offered the medal in recognition of what she called Trump’s “unique commitment” to Venezuelan freedom, though the Norwegian Nobel Institute has reiterated that the Peace Prize itself cannot be transferred or shared.
Venezuela has been in political turmoil since the ouster of long-time leader Nicolás Maduro in a U.S.-backed operation this month, with interim President Delcy Rodríguez consolidating power and seeking foreign investment in the state oil sector.
The Nobel Committee awarded Machado the 2025 Peace Prize for her role in advocating democratic transition, but Trump has questioned her viability as a leader and has signaled greater cooperation with Rodríguez’s government.
After their meeting, Machado also held talks with bipartisan U.S. senators on Capitol Hill, where she sought broader legislative support for Venezuelan democratic efforts despite mixed views on her leadership prospects.
Some lawmakers have expressed skepticism about rapid democratic transition in Venezuela, emphasizing the need for a stable political process rather than symbolic gestures, reflecting ongoing divisions in U.S. policy approaches.
The symbolic handing over of the Nobel medal highlights both Machado’s diplomatic strategy and the complexities of U.S. engagement in Venezuela’s future, as the country navigates transitions in leadership, governance and international support.
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